TNT closed in on a top finish in Group A play in the PBA Governors' Cup eliminations after repeating over Magnolia with an 84-82 decision Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Tropang Giga and the Hotshots once again engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle, with TNT unleashing a key spurt heading home to take an 82-75 lead before eventually fending off Magnolia to firm up hold of the lead at 7-1.
TNT has Terrafirma and NorthPort as last two assignments in the elims. Just one win will guarantee the Tropang Giga Group A pole position to be pitted versus Group B fourth seed in the best-of-five crossover quarterfinal round.
Magnolia, for its part, dropped to joint third with Converge at 4-4, closely followed by fifth-running NorthPort at 3-5.
The Tropang Giga and the Bolts look headed for a 1-2 finish, with the Hotshots, the FiberXers and the Batang Pier to figure in a wild rumble in the closing games of the elims.
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Rondae Hollis-Jefferson churned out a 29-point, 25-rebound double-double with RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana chipping in 19 and 10 points, respectively, as the Tropang Giga swept the Hotshots in their two elims settos.
Hollis-Jefferson himself was a big key in their endgame blitz to take a seven-point cushion from a one-point edge at 76-75.
It was a tight duel with neither side getting a double-digit spread. TNT's biggest lead was that 82-75 count while the largest gap for Magnolia was at 51-44.
A crucial blow for the Hotshots was Mark Barroca suffering what appeared to be a fractured nose bridge.
The peppery guard from FEU was all over the floor, producing 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal against two turnovers before the accident.
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Shabazz Muhammad had 30 points and 17 rebounds in his second game with the Hotshots.
Paul Lee, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Zavier Lucero added 13, 12 and 10 markers, respectively.(SB)
